ULTRASTRUCTURAL FEATURES OF THE MULTIPLICATION OF HUMAN AND MURINE LEPROSY BACILLI IN MACROPHAGES OF NUDE-MICE

Abstract

Ultrastructural features of the growth of Mycobacterium leprae and M. lepraemurium in nude mouse macrophages were studied by ultra-thin sectioning and freeze-etching. In nude mouse macrophages, M. leprae produced spherical droplets (foamy structures) similar to those in human lepra cells. M. lepraemurium produced typical crystalline material in nude mouse macrophages, which is quite the same as that observed in the C3H strain mouse. Spherical droplets in the form of foamy structures seem to be made up of a specific substance produced by the multiplication of M. leprae in suitable host cells (human, nude mouse and armadillo macrophages).